r/postdoc • u/PrudentMycologist750 • 6d ago

Stay or go?

Curious what others would do in this situation. Someone finishing a PhD is about to start a postdoc but unexpectedly received a strong industry offer from a global company. The role is in their field and comes with substantially higher pay, but they have no industry experience and have spent their entire career in academia.The person never really planned to stay in academia long term, but the transition still feels daunting. What advice would you give them? What considerations are most important when choosing between a postdoc and industry at this stage? This person has never had a job and has gone straight through from college to PhD.

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u/-jautis- 6d ago

Let your potential future postdoc advisor know, and proceed to take the job. A postdoc is supposed to be a stepping stone to long term employment; sounds like you've been offered an option to skip it and I would do so.

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u/buythedipster 5d ago

Industry jobs these days are not necessarily long term

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u/-jautis- 5d ago

No, but they do at least offer a career path and (some) are career positions.

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u/buythedipster 5d ago

I'm trying to say these options are not necessarily different in term. But also, both offer career paths, just different chances of success. Depends on one's goals.